Lent Devotionals – Day 24

John 13: 1 – 20:

This extract would have been an incredibly challenging incidence for the disciples, and undeterred, continues to resound a terribly countercultural word.

John’s attention to detail is nurturing and encapsulates such tenderness. It reflects the intimate relationship he shared with Jesus. Such, his words, speaking now from hindsight, long to display Jesus’ faithfulness and steadfast love that remains despite his strong awareness of the end.

That strange intense sense of longing for those around you that comes when we know that something is ending. The look in a grandfather’s eye as he stops and watches his grandchildren, or that last fire on a camping trip as the embers burn away, or the recognition of summer’s close as the orange leaves are caught in the wind. But the difference is, that this is Jesus, this is so much greater, for this is love without bounds, this is the servant king; unending, perfect love.

It strikes me as profound that Jesus, knowing full well the times and places and motives involved, does not wait for Judas Iscariot, that fateful foe, to leave His presence before positioning Himself below. No, He chooses instead to get under even the feet of him who will open the door to the horrors of hell upon Him.

Jesus’ grace and mercy continue to the very end; His love is relentless. Even here, His future words ring true in His actions –

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” .. (Luke 23: 34a).

Jesus disrobes Himself and fulfilling the role of a slave, washes the most unclean part of His followers, where mud and dirt and mire and faeces would have been probable. Furthermore, He uses that which protected His nakedness to dry their feet. This was completely unthinkable for a rabbi; rabbis were to be esteemed not degraded. Yet this is the beauty of the upside down kingdom of God which shatters every connotation of man’s view of authority and power. This act is so profoundly prophetic of the cross and is intimately beautiful.

What drove such a keen act of humility and love? Jesus knew who He was, and He knew who His Father was. He was so evidently secure in His identity as a Son, and He knew exactly what His Father was like. He trusted wholeheartedly in the generosity and protection of His Father, and there was no doubt in Him of the words His Father had spoken to Him. This level of assuredness allowed Him to humble Himself, laying Himself down, knowing full well that it was His Father that would esteem Him.

Simon Peter had journeyed with Jesus for three years and witnessed the most incredible miracles, seen this man redefine the realms of possibility, and utter wisdom that were beyond anything he could ever perceive by himself. So, when he defies Jesus and refuses to receive His abase service, we may have praised him and even perhaps seen his protest as admirable and correct. But Jesus is quick to chasten when our hearts are askew; we must receive Jesus’ sacrifice or we will forever perceive ourselves as capable to wash our spirits clean, keeping us apart from the very thing that can bring us into freedom.

Jesus’ act proceeded, as it seems custom, without explanation or justification. It is only afterwards that Jesus provides an incredible statement that surpasses the realm in which man operates and speaks of the ways of God. His words are difficult to grasp, but we must wrestle with them until they rest in our hearts or we miss the grit of Jesus. God never expects of us what He has not already done. In this way, Jesus only commands His disciples to humility after He has demonstrated in the deepest way what this looks like.

Jesus always sets the bar, and He calls each of us, His followers, to come alongside Him in living out that standard. Sometimes we debate within ourselves or with others to what degree or extent we should follow a commandment or instruction. But this is not the way Jesus has taught us. Jesus is the standard. He is our example and anything less is less than what we have been called into and created to be. And so, after humbling Himself to that of a slave, Jesus commands His disciples to do the same; this is a challenge for the chosen, and blessings are promised to those that obey.

These happenings preceded Jesus’ arrest into what would be the greatest act of humility the world would ever see; ‘humbl(ing) himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!’ (Philippians 2:8b paraphrased). Then duly so, Jesus was exalted to the highest place, and now sitting at the right hand of God, He reigns forevermore – our servant king.

Shall we not also then submit ourselves to God? The crown of life awaits; shall we allow the ill-conceived, short-sighted meanderings of man deter us into kingship on earth? Or will we humble ourselves for a short time in order to receive the eternal riches of heaven and its graces in the throne room of our Father King?

Let us choose the throne room and serve on earth out of love whilst we have the privilege to do so; knowing that we are loved far above what we deserve. Let us pick up our cross, and quit evasively navigating the kingdom at the expense of the glory for which we are called. Jesus has set the bar.

‘Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.’ (James 4:10)